Protect the script

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topsecret 0

topsecret 0

Hy guys, I'm very new to autoit but I was asked by someone to write a pretty basic program. I managed to do it and now I've been asked once again to do something a bit more complicated. I have no problem with writing the script, the problem is that the program will be given to other people who CAN NOT BE ALLOWED to copy the script or even look at it; so I wrote the program, I have the .au3 and the compiled .exe. Obviously I will give the .exe to that "someone" who shouldn't look at the written script so I want to protect it somehow. My question is, can an .exe be opened in something that will show the written script of it or is there an encryption method that can protect my program from being copied !??! Waiting for an answer...

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Melba23 2,837

Melba23 2,837

Searching the forums will provide you with a lot more information in greater detail, but in brief:

- Your plain language script is within the compiled .exe, but in compressed form. It is not immediately viewable with a hex editor, but is by no means secure as it is expanded in memory when the .exe is run.

- Obfuscator (part of the full SciTE4AutoIt3 package) will obscure your script by changing variable and constant names (and a lot more!), which makes it harder to decompile but again does not render the .exe secure.

So, compiling an Autoit script will prevent quick snooping, but a determined, experienced hacker can relatively easily get your source - including passwords, specific filenames, etc - or the encryption routines you have used in your script to encrypt/decrypt them if they are stored in another file.

Basically you cannot make an AutoIt script - or an application written in virtually any other language - completely secure.

M23

Any of my own code posted anywhere on the forum is available for use by others without any restriction of any kind._______My UDFs:

Spoiler

ArrayMultiColSort---- Sort arrays on multiple columnsChooseFileFolder---- Single and multiple selections from specified path treeview listingDate_Time_Convert-- Easily convert date/time formats, including the language usedExtMsgBox--------- A highly customisable replacement for MsgBoxGUIExtender-------- Extend and retract multiple sections within a GUIGUIFrame---------- Subdivide GUIs into many adjustable framesGUIListViewEx------- Insert, delete, move, drag, sort, edit and colour ListView itemsGUITreeViewEx------ Check/clear parent and child checkboxes in a TreeViewMarquee----------- Scrolling tickertape GUIsNoFocusLines------- Remove the dotted focus lines from buttons, sliders, radios and checkboxesNotify------------- Small notifications on the edge of the displayScrollbars----------Automatically sized scrollbars with a single commandStringSize---------- Automatically size controls to fit textToast-------------- Small GUIs which pop out of the notification area